Seat end standard



Nov. 20, 1934. e. H. HAMILTON SEAT END STANDARD Filed Oct. 17, 1932 Patented Nov. 20, 1934 imi'rso STATES PATENT OFFICE."

SEAT END STANDARD Application October 17,

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to seat end standards and more particularly to standards of the general character shown and described in Hamilton Re-issue Patent No. 17,485 and Hamilton Patent No. 1,650,347, applications for which were by me filed December 31, 1928 and November 22, 1927, respectively, and by me assigned to the as-- signee of the instant invention.

The main objects of the invention are to pro- 'vide a structure which is an improvement upon the structure shown and described in said Hamilton re-issue patent; to provide such a seat end standard having a source of light therein for illuminating the aisle floor of a theatre but constructed in a manner preventing distracting light leakage; to provide such a seat end standard constructed in a manner providing ready and convenient accessability to the lamp chamber for serving the lamps and cleaning the chamber; and, to provide such a seat end standard constructed in a manner having the approval of electrical inspectors and installation men.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary rear elevational View of the seat end standard with the rear cover plate and wiring conduit partly broken away to better illustrate the lamp chamber and method of mounting the lamp, its socket and socket bracket support;

Figure 2 is a sectional view thereof on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the rear side of the seat end standard showing the cover plate removed;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the cover plate per se; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view on line 5--5 of Figure 1.

In the construction shown and described in the re-issue patent above identified, the seat end standard is provided with a lamp cavity and a detachably secured outside cover plate enclosing the cavity to form a lamp chamber. A series of slotted openings are provided adjacent the bottom of the cover plate permitting issuance of light therethrough to illuminate the aisle floor of the theatre in which such seat end standards may be installed. The seat end standard and cover plate are of cast metal and imperfect manufacture of the several parts forming the assembled structure frequently results in light leakage between the marginal edges of the cover plate and the lamp cavity of the seat end standard. This light leakage is very distracting to occupants 1932, Serial No. 638,067 (Cl. 240-4) of the theatre who may be sitting opposite and to the rear of such a light leaking seat end standard. Particularly is such a distraction annoying to patrons'in darkened moving picture theatres.

In the construction shown and described in the other Hamilton patent above identified, the lamp socket and its support are mounted on the detachable cover plate, a flexible wiring conduit being used and'necessarily required since the use of a rigid conduit is impracticable in the matter of installation and in servicing the lamp, its socket, electrical connections and in cleaning the lamp chamber. Flexible conduits are however objectionable and their use in conjunction with structures of this character is forbidden by electrical inspectors in many of the metropolitan areas since flexing of the flexible conduit over a period of time abrades the wire insulation causing a short circuit and a possible fire hazard. The instant invention overcomes the objection able features of both prior patents.

Referring to the drawing in which like parts are designated by the same numerals in the several views, a vertically disposed seat end standard 1 adapted to support one side of a theatre chair and its seat, not shown, is provided with an arm rest 2, preferably of wood and secured to the upper end of the seat end standard in any of the conventional ways.

The seat end standard is adapted to be fixed to the floor of the theatre in any conventional manner adjacent the aisle thereof and is provided with an integrally formed outwardly protruding portion 3 below the arm rest forming a cavity open on its inner side or toward the occupant of the chair whose seat it conventionally supports on on one of its sides.

The lower end of outwardly protruding portion forming the cavity open on its inner side is provided with a plurality of light-emitting openings or slots 4 running laterally transverse to the vertical length of the standard and permitting issuance of light rays to the adjacent aisle floor for illuminating the aisle. A socket-supporting bracket 5 for supporting the lamp socket 6 is here shown as detachably mounted on the inner side of the cavity by means of the screw '7 within the drilled and tapped integrally-formed boss 8 and by means of the projecting lug 9 engaging the integrally formed shelf 10. It will be understood of course that any other device or method may be employed for mounting the lamp socket to the inner wall of the cavity.

A wiring conduit 11 for the wires 12, here shown as of the rigid type, is secured to the inside of the standard adjacent one side thereof, its upper end passing through the apertured integrally-formed laterally-projecting portion 13 which is internally threaded to receive in threaded engagement therewith the externally threaded conduit. An incandescent lamp 14 is adapted to be conventionally screwed into its socket 6 which is wired as indicated. The threaded connection between the rigid conduit and standard forms or makes a perfect electrical ground in case a short circuit develops in the Wiring, preventing possible electrical shocks to the occupant of the seat.

A cover plate 15 substantially semi-cylindrical in form is detachably secured to the standard over the open side of the cavity by any suitable means such as the screw 16 engaging the tapped and drilled lug 1'7 medially of the inner upper side of the cavity and when thus assembled forms a chamber for the lamp therein. The detachability of the cover plate provides ready and convenient means for servicing the lamp, its socket and electrical connections and for cleaning the lamp chamber.

It will thus be seen that the structure'is an improvement over the construction shown in the Hamilton re-issue patent above identified in that light leakage is prevented yet the cover plate provides ready and convenient means for obtaining access to the light chamber for servicing the lamp, its socket and electrical connections and cleaning of the chamber is made convenient without disturbing the wiring conduit by the removal of the cover plate.

While but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a structure of the class described, a seat end standard for theatre aisle chairs having an integrally-formed outwardly-protruding portion provided with a plurality of openings at its lower side and iprming a cavity open on its inner side, and a detachably-secured cover plate closing the open side of said cavity and forming a chamber for an electric lamp and its socket mounted therein upon the inside of the cavity wall whereby rays from a lamp within the chamber may issue through said openings to the aisle floor.

2. In a structure of the class described, a seat end standard for theatre aisle chairs having an integrally-formed outwardly-protruding portion provided with a plurality of openings at its lower side and forming a cavity open on its inner side, a conduit forelectric wiring secured to the standard and leading to said cavity, an electric lamp socket mounted on the inner wall of said cavity, and a detachably secured cover plate closing the open side of said cavity and forming a chamber for an electric lamp within the socket whereby light rays may issue through said openings to the aisle floorand providing means whereby lamps within the chamber may be serviced without disturbing the wiring and the socket.

3. Ina seat end standard for theatre aisle chairs 1.5

having an integrally-formed outwardly-protruding portion provided with an opening at its lower side and forming a cavity open on its inner side and likewise provided with an integrally-formed laterally-projecting portion adjacent the cavity 'which is drilled and internally threaded to receive a wiring conduit, a rigid Wiring conduit secured to the standard whose upper end is threaded and secured to the laterally-projecting portion in threaded engagement therewith for forming an electrical ground, an electric lamp socket mount-1 ed on the inner wall of said cavity, and a detachably secured cover plate closing the open side of said cavity and forming a chamber for an electric lamp within the socket whereby light rays may ll.

issue through said opening to the aisle floor.-

GEORGE H. HAMILTON.

i is 

